Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Cosplay
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D-7 until launch.
With just one week left until release, the office should have been buzzing with a festive atmosphere now that most schedules were wrapped up, but instead, an inexplicable tension hung in the air.
The reason was the surprise video shoot for the launch celebration.
Even though the trailer and the record-breaking success of the CBT meant the game was already getting plenty of free publicity, I asked the publisher if we could skip the shoot...
But their response was that users were expecting it so much, it was impossible.
Considering how uploading these broadcasts on anniversaries had become the norm since the success of Girls Memorial, it felt like we only had ourselves to blame.
In the end, we needed one more person besides me for the broadcast shoot, and now the team was all eyeing each other warily.
The catch? It required cosplay.
The moment I brought it up, Yerin—who had already done cosplay twice—turned her head away as if to say absolutely not.
And even aside from her, no one seemed eager, as they all avoided eye contact and busied themselves with other things.
"One of us has to go anyway... What do you think?"
I asked again, but the team just kept glancing around awkwardly.
"Since no one's volunteering, how about we let a game decide?"
At my suggestion, they all looked at each other and nodded.
And so began the lottery to pick the broadcast participant.
We settled on a simple draw—easy, straightforward, and no room for arguments.
We wrote everyone's names on slips, put them in a container, and shook it up.
"Alright, here we go?"
Feeling all eyes on me, I rummaged in the box and pulled out one slip.
"Let's see... Huh?"
"What's up? Who got picked?"
Yerin approached, curious at my pause.
I shrugged and unfolded the slip for everyone to see.
[Han Chaeyoung]
The team let out a collective sigh of relief.
All except one.
"Ah, no way... Me? This has to be a lie!"
"Senior, snap out of it. This is reality."
"Ah... Aah..."
I left Chaeyoung Senior holding the name slip in despair and turned to the rest of the team.
"Anyway, there's nothing much left until launch day, so when you get back to your teams, don't pull all-nighters—stock up on some rest. We've got even more to do after launch. Oh, and Yerin, you come with Chaeyoung Senior to the meeting room for a sec."
"Me? Okay."
Once the team headed back to their desks, I went into the meeting room with Chaeyoung and Yerin.
Their expressions couldn't have been more opposite.
Yerin, finally free from cosplay duty, was grinning ear to ear.
Chaeyoung, stuck with the cosplay shoot as punishment, looked utterly defeated.
"Senior, loosen up that face. It's not like you're heading to your execution."
Something about my words must have struck a nerve, because she snapped back angrily.
"At my age, going to do cosplay and get filmed? What's the difference between that and social suicide?!"
Her outburst left me dumbfounded, and I shot back.
"Come on, if anyone can pull it off, it's you. What's with the age talk?"
It wasn't an empty compliment—Chaeyoung's appearance was the kind where cosplay wouldn't look out of place at all.
Even compared to Yerin, who was right there trying to comfort her, the age gap didn't seem that wide.
They gave off the vibe of sisters born just a year apart, at most.
"Exactly, sis. Once you try cosplay, it's really no big deal."
Chaeyoung gave Yerin—an innocent picture of cheer trying to console her—a look of utter disbelief.
"...If it's really no big deal, then why were you so thrilled about it?"
"Th-that's..."
Chaeyoung clicked her tongue at the sight and pressed Yerin again.
"How about you do it instead, then, Yerin?"
"N-no..."
Yerin clamped her mouth shut at Chaeyoung's uncharacteristically sharp vibe.
Usually, Chaeyoung's half-drunk, laid-back personality from all the drinking made her seem approachable.
But her true self had that piercing gaze and edge that kept people at arm's length.
She'd mellowed out a bit with age and booze...
"Okay, okay, both of you, cut it out. Anyway, Chaeyoung Senior."
"...What?"
"I'll make sure to block any future schedules like this cosplay stuff as much as I can, so can you just tough this one out?"
At my sincere plea, she closed her eyes like her head was pounding.
After a brief silence,
Chaeyoung finally steeled herself, let out a sigh, and said,
"...This is the last time. Got it?"
"Of course, loud and clear."
"Haa... You really cause trouble sometimes."
"Sorry..."
"Whatever. If I have to do it anyway... So, what cosplay is it?"
"Uh... Henrietta."
The meeting room fell silent.
"Henrietta? You mean that Henrietta?"
"Yeah... Our game's main heroine..."
Chaeyoung stared at me, her face a mix of shock as Henrietta's image popped into her head.
"...You're one lucky guy. If you'd told the others, you wouldn't have heard the end of it."
"I know, that's why I'm so grateful to you, Senior."
"If you get it, then make it worth it... So, when's the shoot?"
"We head to the studio in Japan three days from now."
"At least there's time. What about booze...? I mean, it'll be tough stone-cold sober..."
"I'll try to work something out on that front."
She looked a bit relieved at my words, her expression softening, so I stood up.
"Alright, I'll go call the publisher then. Yerin, give Chaeyoung Senior some tips."
"Tips?"
"You're the only one in our team besides me with video shoot experience."
"Sure, I'll do that."
I left Yerin in charge of Chaeyoung and slipped out of the meeting room.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Three days flew by, and departure day arrived.
I picked up Chaeyoung in front of the company to head to the airport, but her face was all scrunched up.
"Lighten up that expression. Your makeup's gonna run."
"Shut up."
She grumbled at me,
but I knew she was already over it and teased her playfully.
"Should've drawn better, huh."
"Haa... Maybe I should've stayed at the broadcasting station instead of switching jobs after hearing about you."
I just shrugged at her lament and kept driving.
Chaeyoung leaned against the window, gazing at the scenery outside, not really expecting a reply.
We reached Incheon International Airport, cleared check-in in a flash, and before we knew it, we were in Tokyo.
Of course, since it was her first business trip, I helped her out with everything.
"You're so natural at this?"
"Anyone would get this smooth with trips as routine as meals..."
After that, I led her from the airport to Shinjuku.
A short five-minute walk from Shinjuku station brought us to the familiar studio.
"This the place?"
"Yeah. Let's head in."
"By the way, what about the cosplay outfit and makeup?"
"Publisher's handling all that, so no worries."
"Really?"
Her face relaxed at that, and she stepped inside.
I followed her into the studio.
"Welcome. You're Ji Hojin Executive Director and Han Chaeyoung Sound Director, correct?"
"Yes, that's us."
"Thank you for confirming."
Just like last time, they handed us visitor badges.
We put them on and headed up to the second floor, where Tanaka was waiting.
"Nice to see you. Ji Hojin Executive Director, Han Chaeyoung Sound Director."
The waiting room he showed us to was empty, unlike last time when the voice actors and host had greeted us.
Wondering what was up, I glanced at Tanaka,
and he explained with a laugh.
"Haha, since Director Han mentioned it's her first cosplay, we scheduled it a bit early."
"Ah..."
"Just give us a call when you're both ready, and we'll send up the makeup team right away."
"Got it."
Tanaka nodded and left the waiting room.
Looking around, I spotted two boxes on the table.
"Those must be the cosplay outfits, huh?"
"Looks like it."
We approached and checked—the boxes were labeled with the characters' names.
One said Henrietta, the other Commander.
Henrietta's outfit was simple, so her box was noticeably smaller than the Commander's.
"You go first, Senior. I need to check how to put this on—it looks more complicated than I thought."
"Okay? I'll head in then."
"Yeah."
Chaeyoung grabbed her box from the table and went into the women's changing room.
I reviewed the instructions for mine and then entered the men's room.
First, suit pants and dress shirt, then vest over that, and a black longcoat with the Resistance logo.
Finally, necktie and dress shoes—and just like that, I looked exactly like the Commander from the illustrations.
'Gloves go on during the shoot, I guess...'
I gave my outfit one last check and stepped back into the waiting room, where Chaeyoung sat with her back to me.
"Whoa, Senior, you're out already...?"
She heard me, turned her chair with a creak, and faced me.
I froze at the sight of her.
Her face slightly flushed with embarrassment as she looked up at me—it was Henrietta herself, straight out of the illustrations.